INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Russia-Ukraine conflict could lead to a global food crisis that will hit developing countries the hardest, United Nations
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in Stockholm on Wednesday.Guterres met with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to discuss
the security situation in Europe, recovery from the pandemic and the green transition on the day.Speaking at a press conference following
the meeting, Guterres said the food crisis cannot be resolved effectively unless Russia&s manure and food production, and Ukraine&s food
production can reach world markets again.Guterres also called for swift decisions to counter the food crisis that could arise from the
conflict, putting developing countries most at risk.During his previous visit to Senegal, Guterres noted that the Ukraine crisis can have a
dramatic impact on the economies of developing countries, and is aggravating a ''triple food, energy and financial crisis& across
Africa.According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Russia and Ukraine are the world&s largest and fifth-largest wheat
Together, they provide 19 percent of the world&s barley supply, 14 percent of wheat and 4 percent of maize, making up more than one third of
global cereal exports.In Ukraine, which is known as the breadbasket of Europe, the conflict has left unharvested wheat that was planted
months ago, while maize and sunflowers sown when the conflict broke out were left unfertilized
It is estimated that Ukraine&s grain production may fall by more than 50 percent in the current season.Moreover, Russia is the leading
producer of fertilizers, accounting for 13 percent of global production
Restrictions on Russian fertilizer exports due to United States sanctions have led to a surge in global fertilizer prices
This has forced farmers in Brazil, the United States and other major agricultural countries to reduce their use of fertilizers, which could
affect future harvests.The post UN warns of potential global food crisis due to Russia-Ukraine conflict first appeared on Ariana News.
